Patent Application
20130149665
The present invention relates in general to a dental wedge, and more particularly to a dental wedge having a surface coating for rapidly delivering a material during a dental procedure.
In many dental procedures, dental wedges are often needed. In some dental procedures, tooth material must often be removed between two teeth. In restoring the tooth, a matrix band is often placed between the two teeth to form a wall so as to contain a restorative dental material. During these dental procedures the tissue is sometimes injured and may cause bleeding or oozing of fluids. In order to obtain a good fit between the matrix band and the tooth, a dental wedge is often forced into the area between the matrix band and an adjacent tooth. The matrix band is thereby forced against the tooth being restored. A poor matrix band fit may result in a permanent irritation and possible periodontal abscess. The dental wedge is also often helpful in forcing the teeth apart, allowing for the thickness of the matrix band to be placed between the teeth. Typically, dental wedges are relatively small pieces of material, made of wood or plastic, that come in a variety of different shapes. Generally, wood dental wedges have more limited shapes due to the difficulty in manufacturing the more complicated shapes. Dental wedges in most applications are placed in position by grasping the end with a pair of small plies or forceps. However, some dental wedges may have a handle attached to facilitate placement.
One such dental wedge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,007 entitled “Dental Wedge with Handle” and issuing to Stanwich et al on Nov. 19, 2002. Therein disclosed is a dental wedge having a frangible handle portion that facilitates easy handling of the small dental wedge. Another dental wedge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,475 entitled “Pre-dosed Applicator and Applicator System” and issuing to Dragan on Aug. 16, 2005. Therein disclosed is a flocked wedge that is pre-dosed with an astringent or hemostatic agent. Another dental wedge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,199 entitled “Dental Wedge” and issuing to Weikel on Aug. 28, 1984. Therein disclosed is a dental wedge made of a porous material, such as wood, that is impregnated with a hemostatic agent. The crushing force to which the porous material of the wedge is subjected forces the hemostatic material from the wedge as it is inserted.
While these dental wedges have been helpful in various dental procedures, they are sometimes difficult to work with and do not consistently achieve there desired results well. In some situations, when flocking is applied to the dental wedge, the flocking may sheer off when inserted into position between teeth or otherwise be somewhat compressible, making accurate and tight placement of a dental wedge difficult. Similarly, when a dental wedge is made of a porous or compressible material, such as wood, the dental wedging action may not be as accurate and effective as desired. Additionally, when a hemostatic agent is impregnated into the porous material, its delivery may be delayed and therefore may not have a sufficiently quick response in controlling bleeding during the dental procedure, which may occur over a relatively short time. Dental wedges often come in different shapes. These different shapes are often difficult to make in wood. Therefore, the use of wood may restrict the different shapes of dental wedges desired.
Accordingly, there is a need for a dental wedge that can be securely placed and provides improved wedging action with more rapid delivery of a material, and in particular an astringent or hemostatic agent for controlling bleeding.
The present invention comprises a dental wedge that is substantially non-porous and non-compressible, having a thin surface coating of a material that is to be delivered when the dental wedge is placed in position during a dental procedure. A material, such as an astringent or hemostatic agent, is affixed to the surface of the dental wedge with a thin surface coating. A fine, granular or particles of material may be mixed with an epoxy adhesive providing a suspension that may be thinly coated on the dental wedge. The particles of material are preferably less than 200 microns.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a better performing dental wedge.
It is an advantage of the present invention that material is quickly delivered during the dental procedure.
It is a feature of the present invention that a coating of particle of material is adhesively affixed to the surface of the dental wedge.
These and other objects, advantages, and features will become more readily apparent in view of the following more detailed description.
The coating 20 placed on the dental wedges 14 and 114 is preferably provided as a thin surface coating. The use of a thin surface coating and particle size makes it easier to place the wedge in tight locations between teeth and permits the rapid dispensing of the material. This is an improvement over the dental wedges having a flock coating or that are impregnated with a material. The present invention may be placed within tight spaces without the problem of sheering the flock coating, as in prior devices. The sheering of the flocked coating created potential problems of contamination and compromising the dental restoration. Additionally, the relatively thin surface coating and small particle size permits the material to be dispensed and absorbed quickly. The small particle size permits the material to go into solution quickly. The surface coating permits much quicker delivery than porous dental wedges that have been impregnated. The surface coating does not require the time required for the impregnated material to leech from the porous dental wedge.
The coating 20 may be placed on the dental wedge 14 and 114 by any convenient means. One successful method of applying the coating 20 is by using a very thin, non-viscous glue or adhesive, such as an epoxy, and dipping the dental wedge therein. Excess glue may be removed with a gentle air stream that may also aid in evaporating any thinning solvent or agent, leaving a very thin glue coating on the dental wedge. A material, such as an astringent, may then be sprinkled onto the glue or adhesive coating the dental wedge. The material should take the form of a fine particle or powder, preferably having a size less than two-hundred microns. Any excess particle of material may be shaken off or brushed lightly, assuring a thin coating. The dental wedges may be then permitted to dry or the adhesive cured. To expedite the drying the coated dental wedges may be placed in a drying oven. While the preferred material is an astringent, such as alum, aluminum sulfate, aluminum chloride or ferric sulfate, the material may be other types of materials that are desired to be dispensed quickly in a dental procedure. Such other materials may be a therapeutic agent or medicament such as an antibacterial agent, for example tetracycline, or any other medicament for periodontal delivery for the treatment of any possible disease. The material may also be a flavoring agent.
An alternate method of applying the thin surface coating 20 to the dental wedges 14 and 114 may be by creating a suspension of a very thin or non-viscous liquid adhesive, epoxy, or glue with a fine particulate material mixed therein. The adhesive, epoxy, or glue may be thinned with a suitable thinner, such as acetone or xylene. The dental wedge may then be dipped into this suspension, providing a thin coating of adhesive mixed with particles of the material. To improve adhesion of the coating 20, the surface of the dental wedge 14 and 114 may be treated, for example with a plasma treatment, so as to provide a slightly roughened surface or a surface that will increase the adhesion of the particles in the surface coating 20.
While the present invention has been described with respect to several different embodiments, it will be obvious that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
